Barcelona Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Eibar

Everything you need to know ahead of the Catalans side's LaLiga encounter on Sunday

Barcelona are in action in the Basque Country for the second time in four days as they take on Eibar in La Liga on Sunday.

Luis Enrique's side edged out Real Sociedad in the teams' Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg at Anoeta on Thursday and will now look to put pressure on Primera Division leaders Real Madrid (who host Malaga on Saturday) and second-placed Sevilla (away to Osasuna on Sunday) in the 19th round of matches.

The champions currently sit in third, just one point behind Sevilla and two adrift of fierce rivals Real, although Los Blancos have played one fixture fewer due to their particpation in the Club World Cup last month.

BARCELONA INJURIES

Andres Iniesta is out for Barcelona on Sunday due to a calf problem which requires rest, while Rafinha is doubtful with a slight strain to his hamstring in the right leg. The rest of Luis Enrique's squad will be fully fit for the game against Eibar.

BARCELONA SUSPENSIONS

Javier Mascherano misses the match due to suspension. The Argentine picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in LaLiga during Barca's 5-0 win at home to Las Palmas last Saturday and is unavailble for the trip to Eibar this Sunday.

BARCELONA POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP

With Andres Iniesta out, both Andre Gomes and Ivan Rakitic are set to start for Barcelona this weekend.

Rakitic has featured sparingly of late, with Gomes preferred in midfield alongside Sergio Busquets and Iniesta, but the absence of the veteran Spain midfielder means the Croat should start this match.

Javier Mascherano is out through suspension, so Samuel Umtiti will partner Gerard Pique in central defence. Sergo Roberto looks likely to keep his place at right-back, despite the impressive performance by Aleix Vidal in the 5-0 win at home to Las Palmas last Saturday.

EIBAR TEAM NEWS

Eibar lost 3-0 away to Atletico Madrid in the sides' quarter-final first leg at the Vicente Calderon on Thursday night, but the Basque outfit are enjoying another successful season in La Liga.

Jose Luis Mendilibar's men are in ninth place, having won seven, drawn five and lost six in the Primera Division this term. And at home, they have wone five of their nine fixtures, with two draws and two losses.

The northerners will be without goalkeeper Asier Riesgo, defenders Anaitz Arbilla, Ivan Ramis and David Junca, and striker Kike Garcia - all missing through injury - on Sunday.

BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS

Barcelona have won all four of their top-flight meetings with Eibar, averaging three goals a game and keeping three clean sheets.

Lionel Messi has scored in his last four games (five goals) – the Argentine hasn’t scored in five or more consecutive games since May 2015 (6).

Paco Alcacer has scored five goals vs Eibar in the Primera Division, more than any other La Liga player alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Only Valencia (22) have had more goals scored by Spanish players in La Liga this season than Eibar (21), while Barcelona have the joint-fewest in this regard (four, level with Granada).

TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME

Eibar against Barcelona at Ipurua kicks off this Sunday at 20:45 CET and UK viewers can watch the game live on Sky Sports 3 from 19:45 GMT.